Device for sealing containers under vacuum



June 6, 1933. o. B. UNDERWOOD DEvIcE=Foh SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUMFiled July 24, 1931 Patented June 6, 1933:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OLAN BEVERLY UNDEBWOOD, F EVANSVILLE,INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO BERNARDIN BOTTLE CAP 00., EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, AGORPORATION OF INDIANA DEVICE FOR SEALING CONTAIN EBS UNDER VACUUM".

Application filed July 24,

The invention relates to devices for sealing containers with screw capsunder vacuum.

' One object of'the invention is to provide a simple device for thispurpose which can 7 be easily and manually manipulated and is equippedwith a handle which may be grasped in one hand of the operator to holdwill appearfrom the detailed description. The invention consists in theseveral novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularlydefined by claims at the conclusion hereof. a

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a device embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan.

The invention is exemplified in, a device 4 comprising a casing 3 ofcastmetal, the lowoperation.

er end of which is open and is provided with an inset. elastic band orgasket 4 which is adapted to engage the shoulder on a container a toform an air-tight closure between the casing and the container when thelatter is held on the container. The upper end of the casing has aclosed wall 5 to enclose and form a closed chamber 6 around the'upperportion of the container which is provided with an external screw a fora screw cap 6 with a depending screw threaded flange b. A handle 7projects laterally from and is formed integrally with the casing .3. Thehandle is adapted-to be grasped by the operator to hold the casing 3downwardly against the container a during the sealing A vacuumconnection for' exhausting the air from the container 11 and chamber 6in the casing comprises a flexible vtube 8 which is connected to avacuum tank (not shown) and to a nipple 9 inthe outer end of thehandleand aport 10 extending longitudinally through the handle to the1931. Serial a... 552,909.

chamber 6. A cylindrical valve 11 is ver-,

tically slidable in a socket 12 formed in the handle, adjacent thecasing3, to control the vacuum connection and the admission of air to thechamber 6 after a sealing operation has been completed. This valve isprovided with a horizontal port 13 which, when the valve is depressed,registers with'the port 10 to connect the chamber 6 to the'vacuum tankto exhaust the air from the: container and chamber 6. A stem 14 extendsupwardly from valve 11 and is provided at its upper end with a button 15which is adapted to be pressed by the thumb ora finger of the hand ofthe operator which is used to grasp the handle 7 Valve 11 is normallyheld in its raised position by a spring\ 16. This spring holds the valvenormally closed or in position to interrupt the suction connection untilthe operator depresses the button 15. A pin 17 secured, to the button,slides in a socket 18 in a boss 19 formed on the handle 1 to hold thevalve against rotation. This valve also controls the admission of air tothe chamber 6 to release the vacuum therein at the end of a sealingoperation or when the valve is in its normal position. For this purposea port 20 leads from the chamber 6 in the casing 3 to an angular port 21in valve 11. When the valve 1s depressed port 20 will be closed, andwhen the-valve is retracted to its normal position, port 21 willregister with port 20' to admit air to the chamber 6 to release thevacuum.

Ahead or chuck 23 in the casing 3 has a tapered socket 24, the innerperiphery of which is adapted to engage the corner or side of thescrew-cap b for the purpose of rotatingthe cap to close the seal whilethe cham- 25 is slidable and rotatable in its bearing in the casing, sothat the head 23 may be pressed downwardly to engage-the cap 6 and thenturned to rotate'the cap.

- The operation of the device is as follows: The operator will grasp thehandle 7 with 2 azar??? one hand, usuall the left, and press the easing3 downwar 1y against the shoulder on the container to enclosethe upperportion of the container on which a screw cap has been loosely placedand to close the chamber 6. When that has been done, the opera-- to'rwill depress button 15 with a thumb or a finger of the hand graspinghandle 7 to shift tainer or jar a. After the screw-cap has been thussecured, the operator will release button 15 so that spring 16 willclose valve 11' and cut oil the vacuum tank from the chamber 6. When thevalve reaches its-normal raised position, its port 21 will register withport 20 to permit air to enter the chamber 6 and break the vacuumtherein. The casing 3 can then be readily removed from the sealedcontainer.

The invention exemplifies a device for'sealing containers with screwcapsunder pressure, which is simple in construction and can be easilymanipulated by a single'operator.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these ters Patent, is:

1. In a device for sealing with a screw cap a container having. areduced externally threaded neck and a shoulder beneath th eneck, thecombination of a casing designed to form a closed chamber around theupper portion" ofthe container and comprising a top wall adapted tooverlie the neck of the container and a continuous side walldependingfrom the top wall and adapted to sur- 2. In a device forsealing with amcrew cap a container having a reduced externally threadedneck and a shoulder beneath the neck, the combination of a casingdesigned to form a closed-chamber around the upper portion of thecontainer com' rising a ClIClllar top wall adapted to overlie the neckand an annular or. cylindrical side wall depending from the marginal artof the top wall and adapted to surroun the neck of the-container andrest directly upon the shoulder, a handle connected to and promotingoutwardly; from the side wall of the casing where y the casing may beheld in place with the side wall resting upon the shoulder of thecontainer, a vacuum connection for the chamber comprising a flexiblehose connected to the outer end of the handle and a port extendinglongitudinally through the handle and leading to the chamber, aspringclosed valve for controlling the vacuum connection mountedslidably in the handle provided with means for admitting air to thechamber when the connection is closed, a head disposed within thechamber and having a conical socket in, the under'part thereof forreceiving the ca and means on the outside of the casing wiiereby thehead may be manually o erated to screw the ca on the neck of t econtainer while the casing is under-vacuum.

Signed'at Evansville, Indiana, this 17th day of July, 1931-.

OLAN BEVERLY UNDERWOOD.

round the neck and rest directly upon the shoulder of the container, ahandle connected to and projecting from one side of the casing wherebythe casing may be held in place with the continuous side wall restingupon the shoulder of the container, a vacuum connection for the chambercomprising a flexible tube connected to the outer end of the handle anda duct extending longitudinally through the handle, a valve in thehandle for controlling the duct, a'head disposed within the chamber andhaving a conical socket in the under part thereof for receiving the cap,and means on the outside'ofthe casing whereby the head may be manuallyoperated to screw the cap on the neck of the container while the casingis under vacuum.

